Star Wars actors Peter Mayhew and Tom Kane, and Star Trek actor Robert Picardo are just some of the great panels attendees can see at The Great Allentown Comic Con’s MEGA SHOW event in November!

The Great Allentown Comic Con presents the 2011 MEGA SHOW Panel schedule, and a packed show room with 100 tables of artists and dealers this show is the largest “little con” in eastern PA.  All panels will run approximately 1 hour, and many will include multimedia presentations and interactions with attendees as well as prizes!  In addition to the panels below attendees can still expect Door Prizes at 11:30, 2:30 and 5pm both days.

Saturday

Large Room:

10:30 PM Crazy 8 Press - Join NY Times Best Selling Authors and Famed creators Michael Jan Friedman and Peter David as they discuss their new independent publishing venture Crazy 8 Press! With over 200 novels between them already printed, and dozens of universes and genre touched, listen to them discuss the new worlds they plan to visit now that they are independent.

12:30 PM Joint 501^st Legion and Rebel Legion Star Wars Trivia Contest! - Do you know how many parsecs it took the Millennium Falcon to finish the Kessel Run? How many meters long is a womp rat?....What is a womp rat anyway? If you can answer these questions than be sure to come to this Trivia contest...and Win some great prizes!

1:30 PM Costume Contest! - This one is easy...show up in a costume! Just think...Halloween could come twice this year! Cosplay expert Amber Love Delaney will be on hand to help judge the best outfits and hand out prizes!

3:00 PM Star Wars Panel! - Join Peter Mayhew and Tom Kane as they discuss working in one of the most iconic and celebrated franchises in history. With some great stories, and possible spoilers? On upcoming events...this is a can't miss panel for true fans of Star Wars!

4:30 PM Underbelly Media - YouTube sensation and all around geektastic sketch show Underbelly will be presenting a special multimedia show. Sketches, bits, and all around geek cultural explosions can be expected!

Small Room:

10:30 AM Smurftology 101 - Join "Smurfologist" Matt Murray as he puts on his professor smurf hat and presents a history of The Smurfs! Is Papa Smurf actually Carl Marx? Do the Smurfs plan to take over the world? These myths (or truths?) and more will be covered...so be sure to "Smurf" yourself a chair and "Smurf" in!

12:30 PM Comic Greats and Legends Panel - Join Tom Smith, Neil Vokes, and Bob Hall as they discuss working in comics in the modern age...and just what it feels like to have been in the "funny books" for so long. Learn the untold stories about the creation and influences these artists have had on titles from The Avengers to Doctor Strange!

1:30 PM Toteman Panel - November is Epilepsy Awareness Month, and the GACC is proud to be supporting the Toteman Epilepsy Awareness/PSA comic book. But who is Toteman anyway...and why should people support this great book? Join Toteman creator John McLaren and artist RickMan to learn just why you should be helping this great cause!

4:00 PM Disney World! - Former Disney Animator Terry Naughton has influenced and worked on many of the classic Disney films of the last 3 decades. Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast are just a few of the things he has done. Currently he has done the artwork for Peter and Angie Mayhew's children’s novels and has his own book out "The Art of Terry Naughton"

Sunday

Large Room:

10:30 AM Hound Comics -

Join the Hound Comics team (Brimstone, Sajad Shah, Mina Sanwald, and Lucious) as they discuss upcoming project, current releases, and just how much goes into creating comics, books, cartoons and video games!

12:30 AM JK Woodward & Peter David - Join the creative team behind Fallen Angel as they discuss working together on one of today's top independent titles. Learn just what goes into the creative process for JK Woodward one of the comic industries most talented up and coming artists, and Peter David, one of its most prolific author/creators.

1:30 PM Star Trek Panel-Join us as we let Robert Picardo have his way with us in this rare solo panel appearance. If prior experiences are any indication expect to catch at least one song and dance number, and quite a few entertaining stories and jokes. Be sure to arrive early to get a good seat!

3:00 PM Pretending to be on TV with Glen Tickle - Comedian Glen Tickle hosts a "late night" style show with attitude. Joined by artists and guests Glen will interview and get to the bottom of this whole "Comic Con" thing.

4:00 PM Toteman Epilepsy Auction - We are proud to be supporting the Toteman Epilepsy comic book and Epilepsy Awareness in general. November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month, and what could be better than supporting a great cause and an up and coming comic book creator. While online bidding has begun prior to the show, this will be the final live auction, and once the gavel lands some great art and items will find new homes...and with your support we will have raised enough to send the Toteman book to print. So...come and Bid High and Bid Often!


Small Room:

12:30 PM How to Draw Smurfs - This one is for the kids! Smurfologist Matt Murray will teach you how to draw your favorite Smurf!

1:30 PM Horror/Zombie Panel - Join Neil Vokes, Tom Schloendorn, Tommy Castillo and Chris Moreno as they discuss the Horror of the past and future, and our current love of all things Zombie.

*All times are approximate, and may change at last minute.

The folks over at Sci Fi Wire recently posted about a fan that is pushing to get a new Star Trek Mini-Series produced. The Mini-Series, "Titan", would be based on the adventures of the U.S.S. Titan, a ship that was mentioned in Star Trek: Nemesis. There is now a petition created so that you can get involved and let CBS/Paramount know that you would like them to allow the production of this new series.

Check out the Sci Fi Wire story here:

http://scifiwire.com/2010/06/jonathan-frakes-wants-to.php

Sign the petition here:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/trekminiseries/

Patrick Stewart, known to legions of fans as “Professor Charles Xavier” in the X-Men film series and “Captain Jean-Luc Picard” on the television series “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” will attend the Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con, June 11-13 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, it was confirmed today by Wizard CEO Gareb Shamus.

The Emmy-nominated actor, who has performed in more than 100 television and film roles, is one of several actors to appear in all three “X-Men” films: X-Men (2000), X2 (2003) and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006). His role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, which started on Next Generation, placed him in four Star Trek films: Generations (1994) First Contact (1996), Insurrection (1998) and Nemesis (2002). He also served as the voice of numerous animated characters in movies like Chicken Little and Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, as well as popular TV shows such as “Family Guy” and “American Dad.”

“Patrick Stewart is an international movie, TV and stage icon, and just his presence shows our commitment to the fans and the city of Philadelphia.” said Shamus. “With his addition to our already star-studded guest lineup, this makes Philadelphia the largest Star Trek celebration in the country, and will push the Philadelphia Comic Con to the forefront of the industry.”

Stewart, who is scheduled to appear both Saturday and Sunday, will meet fans and sign autographs at the event. He and the Wizard World team are currently planning programming panels, which will be announced shortly. Check back at http://www.wizardworld.com for further updates.

About Wizard Entertainment:
Gareb Shamus founded Wizard Entertainment in 1991. Today, Shamus publishes consumer magazines Wizard, ToyFare, FunFare and numerous books about pop-culture’s top talent, comic books and toys. Shamus also produces a North American Comic Con tour.

For the most recent event information please visit http://www.wizardworld.com and become a Comic Con Fan on Facebook.

Press Release for May 24th, 2010

With a record-breaking run at the box office and huge sales of the tie-in comic books, fans proved they can’t get enough of the blockbuster film Star Trek. Now, director J.J. Abrams and screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman have teamed up with IDW Publishing to present Star Trek: The Official Movie Adaptation. This six-issue miniseries details every pivotal moment from the film, including scenes from the original screenplay that were not in the final movie. The same creative team that brought fans the New York Times bestselling Star Trek: Countdown will again make Trek magic.

Star Trek With issue #1 available in stores this week, the Star Trek: The Official Movie Adaptation offers yet another layer to this already complex and engaging new reality. “Everything about this movie was great, and when you have so much amazing material, not all of it can make the final cut,” said IDW Star Trek Editor Scott Dunbier.

Working closely with screenwriters Orci and Kurtzman, and with the consultation of Abrams, Countdown writers Mike Johnson and Tim Jones again join forces with renowned artist David Messina on the movie adaptation.

"We are excited to bring fans a unique way to experience the movie again," said Johnson and Jones, "especially with the amazing David Messina on board. The band is back together."

Star Trek: The Official Movie Adaptation #1 (of 6; $3.99, 32 page color; a licensed product of CBS Consumer Products) is now available in stores. Diamond order code #DEC09 0908.

Press Release for February 26, 2010